Monday, July 21, 2014
Anticipation is growing for the President's Cup
"Anticipation is growing for the President's Cup International Sambo Tournament on Saturday 27th September. All teams have confirmed their fighting rosters and no less than 16 World Champions will be converging on Bluewater in Kent in order to represent their nations and try to win the coveted President's Cup. Both Russia and Belarus are fielding ominously strong teams, but the Commonwealth associations have carefully selected fighters from within their geographic areas in order to ensure they put on a strong display.
The event is a knockout style tournament for the top 8 nations according to current world ranking, with an automatic entry for the host nation.. The first round for all teams commences at midday, followed by a semi final and then a final that finishes at 6pm. Individual results go towards a team total ensuring that the top teams will advance through each round, so you can expect plenty of camaraderie and audience participation. Teams will comprise both male and female fighters throughout multiple weight divisions with each fighter scoring points towards national glory.
With both Sport and Combat Sambo fights being contested, there will be action for fans of all martial arts. Striking, throwing, wrestling and submission holds form the core skill sets of Sambo; and with each contest limited to one round of 5 minutes, the action is intense from the very start. The full array of knockout punches, ippon throws and flying arm bars will be on display and the final rounds promise some exceptionally fierce fighting from the very best fighters in the world.
Fedor Emelianenko and Oleg Taktarov are both coming to the event to cheer on the fighters and meet fans. It has also been announced that the London Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums will be appearing (by kind permission of Colonel Rankin-Hunt, LVO, MBE, TD, Regimental Colonel) to ensure that the event has a particular British feel.
There has been rumours of a President's Cup coming to Britain for a few years, and now it seems that the tournament is arriving in force. An internationally famous venue, more World Champions than you will find at any event outside the World Championships themselves, MMA celebrity support and top class production values should make it a day to remember and set the scene nicely for the first European Olympic Games next summer where Sambo makes its debut on the Olympic stage.
Tickets are available from £10 which seems excellent value for such an event. We will be there to support the British fighters and we hope to see you there too.
# posted by Valmar Clarke @ 12:16 PM 
